Inspiring Career Moments from Robin Williams

When we are consumed with our own problems, it can often be beneficial to escape the pressures of day-to-day life by sitting down and enjoying a funny movie or television show. Certain Hollywood fixtures have become legendary in their pursuit of the laughter of an audience, and recently deceased Robin Williams led the herd. Beginning with his role as a hilarious alien on "Mork and Mindy" in the 1970s, he grew into a wonderful standup comedian, a voice artist for famous animated films like "Aladdin" and an Oscar-winning dramatic actor.

In his lifetime, Williams was also a big giver to charity. If you earn extra money online by taking paid surveys, consider honoring him by donating to causes he believed in. Here are some ways that the great comedian inspired the masses during his too-brief lifetime.

Charity works and Williams
In a recent Los Angeles Times piece, contributor Saba Hamedy reflected on the good things that Williams had done for society aside from his legendary performance roles. She spoke to Jeffrey Katzenberg, a frequent collaborator with the actor and the head of the Dreamworks Animation department.

"There were so many ways and so many things he did for so many people," Katzenberg told the source. "He really had just a giant heart and that's what makes me so sad."

Williams' most significant charitable work occurred in the 1980s with an organization called "Comic Relief." With contemporaries like Whoopi Goldberg and Billy Crystal, he was able to raise more than $80 million to help the homeless by recording a series of TV specials without payment. In recent years, Williams worked with other charities like the Reeves Foundation (famous actor Christopher Reeves was his roommate at Ju​illiard), Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation and the St. Jude's Hospital. The actor spoke at the St. Jude's gala in 2013.

"This year I appeared with Darcy in one of the St. Jude 'Thanks and Giving' television spots," Williams said, referring to a young patient. "Darcy and children like her from communities across America benefit from the lifesaving research and treatment being done every day at St. Jude. It means a lot to me to be involved."

Giving back as a performer
In addition to his more serious roles in movies like "Good Will Hunting" and "The Birdcage," Williams also took on roles that appealed to the younger audience. Though his best-remembered role in youth entertainment is his Golden Globe-nominated voice work as the Genie in "Aladdin," he also played a pediatrician in 1990's "Patch Adams" and a misguided father figure who took the form of a nanny in drag in 1993's "Mrs. Doubtfire," These roles were in addition to his many hilarious appearances on children's programming like "Sesame Street," according to Slate.

In a recent poll answered by 1,275 Opinion Outpost members, Robin Williams ranks as one of the greatest comedians of our time. The results were as follows:

55 percent named Williams one of the Top 5 comedians of all time

29 percent named Williams one of the Top 10 comedians of all time

13 percent named Williams one of the Top 20 comedians of all time

Three percent named Williams outside the top 20 percent

After earning extra money online with paid surveys, you can feel good about yourself and contribute to some of the causes that meant the most to this lost great.

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